Matt woke up slowly that morning. The soft light from the twilight orb above the Grand Veil Spire came through his window like a gentle friend saying good morning. He sat on the edge of his bed for a long time, just breathing and thinking. His body felt strong, but his heart felt a little heavy. The last expedition to the eastern mountains had been long and tiring. Many echoes had been helped, but he knew there were still deeper places waiting, places with even older stories and bigger problems.
He looked at his hands again. They were calm today. No shaking. No red glow. The hunger was sleeping quietly inside him, like a big dog that had run a lot and was now resting in the corner. Matt smiled softly. “Thank you for resting,” he whispered to it.
He stood up, washed his face with cold wat
